~K>Z5  "3 


Dartmouth  College 

- 

Survivors 


Ly  1890 


OF  THE 


CLASS  OF  1840. 


artmouth  College 
Survivors 


Ly  1890 


OF  THE 


CLtfSS  OF  1840. 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE. 

The  class  meeting  of  the  graduates  of  Dartmouth  College  for 
theyear  1840,  took  place  on  June25th,  1890.  It  was  held  in  the 
private  room  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Slafter  at  the  Wheelock  House, 
in  Hanover,  on  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  day  before 
mentioned.  Nine  of  the  twenty  survivors  were  present,  viz: 
Harry  Brickett,  John  Thompson  Dame,  Abner  Holden  Mer- 
riam,  Thomas  Gilmore  Mitchell,  Josiah  Webster  Pillsbury, 
Edmond  Farwell  Slafter,  Charles  Godfrey  Stevens,  Leonard 
Tenney,  Benjamin  Franklin  Whidden. 

Letters  were  received  from  the  following,  viz:  John  Fullonton, 
Henry  Clinton  Hutchins,  Aurin  Moody  Payson,  Daniel  Thurs- 
ton Plummer,  William  Lovell  Sartwelle,  Alexander  Strong 
Wheeler. 

From  the  following  no  response  was  received  by  the  commit- 
tee, viz;  George  Lewis  Merrill,  Francis  Brown  Mussey,  Timothy 
Osgood  Norris,  Henry  W.  Palmer,  William  Porter. 

It  was  voted  that  each  member  of  the  class  be  requested  to 
prepare  a  brief  sketch  of  his  career,  and  forward  the  same,  all 
to  be  written  in  the  third  person,  to  Mr.  Slafter,  to  be  by  him 
arraigned  and  sent  to  Mr.  Stevens,  who  kindly  offered  to  have 
copies  made  by  type-writer  and  sent  to  those  members  of  the 
class  who  had  furnished  sketches  or  letters.  In  the  sketches  a 
few  facts  have  been  added,  taken  from  the  "General  Catalogue," 
or  "Chapman's  Alumni;"  with  this  exception  no  changes  have 
been  made,  unless  such  as  are  of  very  trivial  character.  The 
letters  are  here  given  without  any  change  whatever. 

E.  F.  S. 


HARRY  BRIGKETT. 

The  week  before  beginning  of  the  fall  term  in  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, 1836,  he  started  from  his  home  in  Littleton,  N.  H.,  for  Hano- 
ver with  just  $12.00  in  his  pocket,  all  the  money  he  could  com- 
mand at  the  time  to  enter  college.  A  friend  in  Newbury,  Vt., 
his  native  town,  kindly  added  to  his  stock  a  few  dollars,  enough 
for  present  use.  He  entered  with  his  class  and  remained  the 
four  years,  owing  about  $200.  The  rest  he  had  earned.  After 
graduation  he  taught  two  years  in  Jaffrey,  N.  H.,  in  the  Melville 
Academy,  at  the  same  time  studying  medicine  with  Dr.  A. 
Howe.  In  the  Fall  of  1842  he  attended  medical  lectures  at 
Dartmouth  Medical  College,  and  remained  there  studying  under 
Drs.  Crosby  and  Peaslee,  the  next  year  attending  lectures  in  the 
Fall  of  1843,  intending  at  the  time  to  graduate  and  practice 
medicine  as  a  profession.  But  Providence  ordered  otherwise. 
He  was  called  in  the  spring  of  1844  to  the  Francestown  Acade- 
my, where  he  remained  seven  years,  till  June  185 1,  as  he  was  in 
urgent  need  of  funds.  From  Francestown,  in  June,  1851,  he 
was  called  to  the  Brown  High  School  in  Newburyporr,  Mass., 
the  classical  department,  where  he  remained  two  full  years  till 
the  spring  of  1853,  when  he  was  called  to  the  charge  of  the 
Merrimack  Normal  Institute,  founded  by  Wm.  Russell,  Esq., 
located  at  Reed's  Ferry,  Merrimack,  N.  H.,  At  the  end  of 
four  year  he  resigned  to  accept  the  charge  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational church  at  Hillsboro  Bridge,  N.  H.,  where  he  remain- 
ed eight  years.  Resigning,  he  removed  to  Genesee,  Henry  Co., 
Illinois,  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church.  He  remained 
there  seven  years;  thence  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Union  Evangelical  church  of  East  Lake  George  in  Queensburg, 
Warren  Co.,  N.  Y.,  remaining  there  until  January  1st,  1876, 
when  he  returned  on  call  to  the  pastorate  of  his  first  charge,  at 
Hillsboro  Bridge.  He  remained  as  pastor  at  Hillsboro,  Bridge 
six  years,  and  in  January,  1882,  received  a  call  to  Thetford,  Vt., 
which  he  accepted.  He  remained  in  Thetford  eight  full  years, 
resigning  April  1st,  1890. 

He  has  purchased  a  home  in  Hooksett,  N.  H.,  where  he  is 
now  living. 

On  August  18th,  1846,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Cutler 
of  Jaffrey,  N.  H.,  who  is  now  living.  They  have  had  five  child- 
ren, three  of  whom  are  living.  A  son,  Harry  L.,  is  a  Congrega- 
tional minister.  His  children  are  all  happily  married,  and  he 
is  a  happy  grandfather. 


Between  the  years  1848  and  186 1,  he  lectured  in  teachers' 
institutes  in  New  Hampshire  and  Maine  more  than  a  hundred 
weeks.  He  was  school  committee  of  Hillboro  Co.,  two  years, 
and  president  of  the  New  Hampshire  board  of  school  commis- 
sioners for  one  year. 

Several  of  his  sermons  and  public  addresses  have  been  pub- 
lished. He  has  written  poems  for  public  occasion;  some  of 
them  have  been  published.  One  of  them  was  on  the  semi- 
centennial of  the  City  and  Church  of  Genesee  in  the  au- 
tumn of  1886. 

His  health  and  strength  have  been  generally  good.  His  life 
has  been  a  busy  one.  He  is  now  seeking  in  comparative  retire- 
ment, rest  and  recuperation. 

JOHN  THOMPSON  DAME. 

John  Thompson  Dame,  son  of  Dr.  John  Dame  and  Abigail 
(Thompson)  Dame,  was  born  at  Orford,  N.  H.,  Oct.  2t,  18 16, 
and  resided  at  Orford  and  Lyme  until  his  establishment  in 
business  in  Massachusetts.  He  fitted  for  college  at  Meriden, 
N.  H.,  Academy.  He  read  law  the  first  year  with  Judge  Leon- 
ard Wilcox  at  Orford,  passed  his  second  year  of  professional 
study  at  Harvard  Law  School  and  completed  his  preparatory 
studies  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Sidney  Bartlett  in  Boston  and 
was  there  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  Spring  of  1843. 

He  first  opened  an  office  in  Marlborough,  Mass.,  shortly  af- 
ter his  admission  to  the  bar,  where  he  continued  practicing  law 
and  occasionally  assisting  in  the  academy  for  about  a  year, 
when  he  removed  to  Lancaster,  Mass.  He  remained  at  the 
centre  village  in  Lancaster  after  his  removal  there,  until  April 
1st,  1850,  when  he  left  that  village  and  took  an  office  in  Clinton, 
a  new  town  established  from  another  portion  of  the  same  Lan- 
caster. He  practised  law  during  his  residence  in  Lancaster, 
acting  Post-master  for  the  last  five  years  of  his  residence  there 
and  for  the  last  two  years  acted  as  police  magistrate.  He  has 
continued  the  practice  of  law  since  his  removal  to  Clinton  to 
the  present  time,  alone  to  the  year  1886,  when  his  son,  Walter 
R.  Dame  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  the  business  connection 
still  continues. 

He  was  Police  Magistrate  and  Trial  Justice  for  the  town  af- 
ter his  removal  to  Clinton,  to  the  year  1863.  He  was  appoint- 
ed Postmaster  of  Clinton  in  1853  and  held  that  position  until 
4 


i86i.     He  has  been  a  member  of  the   School  Board  of  Clinton 

for  a  period  of  seventeen  years,  and  its  chairman  for  fourteen 
years  of  that  time,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Bigelow  Free  Public 
Library  of  the  town  for  six  years,  of  which  last  board  he  is  now 
a  member,  and  its  chairman.  He  has  prepared  and  delivered 
occasional  public  lectures,  prepared  all  the  reports  required  by 
his  position  on  the  School  and  Library  Boards,  and  in  1879 
prepared  a  history  of  the  town  of  Clinton  for  C.  F.  Jewett  & 
Go's  History  of  the  county  of  Worcester.  He  and  his  firm  have 
also  during  most  of  their  law  practice  in  Lancaster  and  Clinton 
acted  as  insurance  agents  and  brokers  and  united  that  line  with 
their  legitimate  professional  business. 

He  was  married  June  11,  1845,  to  Miss  Eliza  Elmira  Reeves 
of  Wayland,  Mass.,  who  still  concinues  his  partner  in  life.  Six 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  two  sons  and  four  daughters, 
of  whom  one  son  and  two  daughters  have  died  and  the  same 
number  of  each  sex  now  survive  and  neither  of  them  have 
been  married.  The  surviving  son  above  referred  to,  graduated 
at  Harvard  University  in  the  class  of  1883,  and  at  the  Boston 
Law  School  in  that  of  1886,  was  immediately  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Boston,  and  became  associated  with  his  father  in  the  law 
and  insurance  business  at  Clinton.  He  holds  at  present  the 
positions  in  town  of  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Assessors  and  a 
member  of  the  School  Board.  The  two  daughters  now  iiving, 
both  reside  at  home.  They  have  had  the  advantages  furnished 
by  the  town  public  schools,  supplimented  by  such  occasional 
instruction  as  could  be  obtained  in  town.  The  elder,  Miss  Ab- 
by  Eliza  Dame  is  now  and  for  considerable  time  has  been  the 
teacher  of  the  Ninth  Grade  of  the  town  Grammar  School. 

JOHN    FULLONTON. 

He  was  born  in  Raymond,  N.  H.,  August  3,  1812,  the  son  of 
Jeremiah  and  Hannah  (Dudley)  Fullonton.  He  was  married 
June  1,  1841,  to  a  most  excellent  woman,  Elizabeth  Elliott,  of 
Haverhill,  Mass.,  who  made  for  him  a  delightful  home,  and  all 
that  is  embraced  in  that  most  charming  word  in  our  language. 
They  had  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  son  died 
about  four  years  ago,  and  his  wife  died,  leaving  him  in  sorrow 
and  tears,  a  little  more  than  a  year  ago.  His  daughter,  as  al- 
ways, lives  with  him,  and  makes  up  for  the  loss  of  her  mother, 
all  that  a  daughter  possible  could. 

5 


From  college  he  went  immediately  to  Parson sfield,  Me.,  and 
taught  in  the  academy  three  years.  Thence  to  Clinton  and 
Whitestown,  N.  Y.,  where  he  taught,  and  supplied  the  Seminary 
church  with  preaching  eleven  years.  During  this  time,  was 
elected  professor  in  Theological  department  of  the  seminary  at 
Whitestown.  This  department  was  transferred  to  New  Hamp- 
ton, N.  H.,  in  1854,  where  it  remained  sixteen  years,  and  then 
became  a  department  of  Bates  College  in  Lewiston,  Me.,  where 
he  now  resides.  During  all  these  years  his  life  had  been  an 
active  one,  but  in  the  main  uneventful.  He  missed  one  of  the 
highest  ambitions  of  early  life,  which  was  to  be  an  orator,  but 
he  had  not  the  proper  training  to  that  end,  and  his  head  has  al- 
ways been  seriously  affected  by  public  speaking,  so  he  was 
forced  to  forego  largely  that  chosen  line  of  effort.  In  the  class- 
room, however,  he  passed  a  pleasant,  and  as  may  be  hoped,  not 
a  useless  life. 

Recently,  at  the  age  of  78,  with  increasing  infirmities,  and 
certain  chronic  complaints  he  felt  compelled  to  tender  a  resig- 
nation of  his  position  as  teacher  in  college.  This  was  declined 
by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  instead  it  was  voted,  that  he 
should  remain  nominally  a  member  of  the  faculty,  on  half  salary, 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  doing  little  or  no  work,  as  he  may  elect. 

He  has  been  an  assistant  editor  of  a  religious  paper  ever  since 
1839,  writing  more  or  less  on  all  manner  of  subjects  every  year. 
When  able  to  speak  in  public,  his  best  efforts  were  in  the  inter- 
est of  establishing  and  endowing  institutions  of  learning,  espec- 
ially interesting  at  the  time  and  place,so  his  work  in  this  totali- 
ty cannot  be  recorded.  He  has  not  only  taught  classes  all  the 
time,  but  had  the  management  of  schools,  served  most  of  the 
time  as  president  of  boards  of  trustees,  and  for  more  than  thirty 
years  as  chairman  of  executive  committees,  largely  engaged  in 
providing  for  and  managing  school  interests,  directing  studies, 
employing  teachers,  and  looking  after  financial  interests.  His 
books  contain  in  all  the  record  of  $40,000,  or  more,  which  has 
passed  through  his  hands,  gathered  in  driblets  and  appropriat- 
ed in  equally  small  sums.  As  to  branches  of  studies  taught, 
they  embrace  all  from  elementary  arithmetic  and  grammar  to  a 
full  fit  for  sophmore  classes  in  college.  During  the  last  thirty 
years  he  has  been  connected  with  a  Theological  school  com- 
posed in  a  considerable  part  of  college  graduates.  The  chief 
branches  of  study  have  been  the  Hebrew  Language,  Pastoral 
Theology  and  Church  History.  Public  positions,  other  than  in 
6 


school  work  he  has  neither  occupied  nor  sought.      He  was  rath 
er  accidently  appointed  chaplain  of  the  New   Hampshire  Legis- 
lature for  the  year  1863.     He  served  in  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives for  the  year  1868.     But  felt  so  far  out  of  his  sphere,  that 
he  peremptorally  refused  a  nomination  for  re-election. 

He  writes  that  he  shall  await  the  receipt  of  the  promised 
sketches  of  the  lives  and  experiences  of  the  living  of  his  dear 
classmates,  with  solicitude  and  interest,  and  shall  prize  them  as 
the  most  valuable  memorials  of  the  past. 

He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Whitestown 
Theological  Seminary  in  1849,  and  that  oi  D.  D.  from, his  Alma 
Mater  in  1862.  He  was  a  professor  in  Whitestown  Theological 
Seminary  from  1852  to  1854;  professor  of  Social  Literature  and 
Pastoral  Theology  in  New  Hampshire  Biblical  Institute  from 
1854  to  187 1,  and  professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Pastoral 
Theology  in  Bates  College  from  187 1  to  the  present  time,  1890. 


HENRY    CLINTON    HUTCHINS. 

On  leaving  college  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Joseph 
Bell,  at  Haverhill,  N.  H.  and  spent  something  over  a  year  with 
him,  thence  he  went  to  the  law  school  at  Cambridge,  where  he 
spent  a  year  under  Judge  Story  and  Professor  Greenleaf,  the 
remainder  of  the  period  before  his  admission  to  the  bar  was 
spent  in  the  office  of  Hubbard  and  Watts  in  Boston.  He  and 
Mr.  Wheeler  having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  they  entered  into 
partnership  January  1,  1844,  under  the  name  of  Hutchins  and 
Wheeler,  and  the  partnership  has  so  continued  until  this  day. 

Their  offices  were  for  many  years  in  Tudor's  building  on 
Couit  street,  and  after  that  in  Sear's  building,  until  February 
last  when  that  building  was  burned.  They  removed  tempora- 
rily to  Niles  block  in  School  street,  where  they  now  are,  but 
expect  to  return  again  to  Sear's  building. in  January,  1891,  by 
which  time  it  is  expected  to  be  rebuilt. 

He  was  married  October  9,  1845,  to  Louise  Grout  at  Bellows 
Falls,  Vermont.  They  had  two  children,  both  boys,  the  eldest 
died  in  youth,  the  other  whom  he  named  for  his  class-mate,  Ed- 
ward Webster,  is  a  lawyer  and  with  our  firm  in  Boston. 

Mr.  Hutchins  and  Mr.  Wheeler  lived,  for  a  few  years  after 
their  partnership  was  formed  and   after    they   had    married,   in 


Charlestown,  Mass.,  when  they  moved  to   Boston,   where   they 
have  both  since  resided. 

His  domestic  life  has  been  in  all  respects  most  happy.      His 
wife  died  January  5,  1883,  and  a  beloved  niece  and  her   daugh- 
ter now  live  with  him  and  look  after  his  household.       His   son 
is  married  and  lives  near  him  and  has  two  young  children  living, 
having  lost  two  young  daughters  by  scarlet  fever. 

He  has  worked  hard  and  constantly  in  his  profession,  and  as 
the  world  goes,  may  be  said  to  have  been  fairly  successful,  and 
ought  to  be  content. 

He  has  travelled  somewhat;  was  in  Europe  six  months  in 
i860  with  his  wife  visiting  London,  Paris,  Italy,  Switzerland, 
the  Rhine,  Holland,  Berlin,  Vienna,  England  and  Scotland. 
He  was  again,  six  months  in  Europe  in  1864,  visiting  Madrid, 
Gibralter,  Grenada,  Valencia  and  Barcelona.  He  spent  six 
weeks  at  some  French  baths  in  Plombiere  and  the  Tyrol,  he 
made  this  journey  on  account  of  his  health. 

In  1873  he  was  again  in  Europe  with  his  wife,  and  travelled 
with  his  son  also,  who  went  abroad  in  1872  after  his  graduation, 
travelling  at  this  time  chiefly  in  Switzerland,  England  and  Ire- 
land visiting  of  course  again  Paris  and  London.  In  1886  he 
was  in  Europe  again  for  six  months,  with  his  son  and  a  niece, 
travelling  again  through  Italy,  Switzerland,  the  Rhine,  Holland, 
Berlin,  Vienna  and  Munich,  visiting  Paris  and  London,  Scot- 
land, Edinborough,  the  Scotch  Lakes  and  Glasgow.  In  1888 
he  visited  Yellowstone  Park  and  Alaska,  going  by  the  Northern 
Pacific  R.  R.,  and  returning  by  the  Canadian  Pacific. 

In  November,  1888,  he  was  seized  with  a  trouble  of  the 
heart,  which  has  driven  him  from  his  office  and  from  active 
business,  and  he  has  not  yet  been  able  to  return.  He  considers 
it  very  doubtful  whether  he  will  again  be  able  to  undergo  the 
excitement  of  professional  life,  and  he  is  grateful  to  God  every 
day,  that  Mr.  Wheeler  and  himself  have  two  good  sons  to  suc- 
ceed them,  and  to  take  up  matters  when  they  lay  them  down. 

Mr.  Hutchins  was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  Phi 
Beta  Kappa  Society,  in  1869.  He  was  president  of  the  Bar 
Association  of  Boston  during  the  two  years  of  1887  and  1888. 
He  regretted  that  he  could  not  be  present  at  the  class  meeting, 
June  25th,  1890,  fifty  years  from  graduation.  He  sent  a  greet- 
ing to  his  class-mates,  nine  of  whom  were  present  of  the  twenty 
surviving.      This   letter   inclosed  a  copy  of   one   to    President 

8 


Bartlett,  which  contained  a  check  for  jive  thousand  dollars,  as  a 
gift  to  the  college.  The  class  passed  a  resolution  expressive  of 
their  gratification  at  this  generous  gift  to  the  college,  and  their 
sincere  regret  that  they  could  not  meet  their  dear  class-mate  on 
this  occasion,  face  to  face. 


ABNER  HOLDEN  MERRIAM. 

Abner  Holden  Merriam,  son  of  Nathan  and  Ruth  (Keyes) 
Merriam,  was  born  at  Westminster,  Mass.,  May  n,  1812.  In 
consequence  of  a  flow  of  blood  to  the  head,  at  the  time  of 
graduation,  by  medical  advice,  he  gave  up  his  intention  of  study- 
ing for  the  ministry.  He  commenced  teaching  the  academy  at 
Westminster,  Mass.,  September,  1840,  and  continued  till  May, 
1847.  He  was  on  the  board  of  School  Committee  and  Supt. 
S.  S.  a  part  of  the  time  while  at  Westminster.  He  taught  the 
academy  at  Winchendon,  Mass.,  from  September,  1847,  to 
November,  1848. 

He  resided  at  Leominster,  Mass.,  from  November,  1848  to 
April,  1853,  teaching  there  and  its  vicinity,  about  two  years. 
He  spent  the  remaining  part  of  the  time  in  introducing  the 
Congregationalist,  which  was  then  in  its  infancy.  After  remov- 
ing to  Templeton,  Mass.,  he  taught  a  select  school  for  one  term, 
and  then  devoted  his  time  to  his  old  trade,  chair  making,  a  little 
farming  and  agency  for  the  Congregationalist.  Some  twenty 
years  were  spent  in  that  way. 

For  the  last  five  years  he  has  devoted  his  time  to  farming  and 
agencies  of  various  kinds,  life  insurance,  book  agencies,  etc. 
At  present,  July,  1890,  he  has  more  farming  and  less  agencies. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  Deacon  of  the  Trinitarian  Church  at 
Templeton.  for  twenty  years,  or  more.  He  married  Emily, 
daughter  of  Deacon  Abel  and  Betsy  Fairbanks  Wood,  of 
Leominster,  Mass.,  April  14,  1842.  They  have  had  five  child- 
ren— one  son  and  four  daughters.  One  son  and  two  daughters 
are  now  living  within  three  miles  of  home,  each  having  three 
children.  The  health  of  his  wife  is  not  good,  but  she  is  so  as 
to  be  about  the  house. 

9 


THOMAS  G1LMORE  MITCHELL. 

He  was  born  in  Mount  Vernon,  N.  H.,  Nov.  19th,  1820.  He 
was  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Mehitable  Gilmore  Mitchell.  While 
yet  a  child  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Woodstock,  Vt., 
which,  thenceforth  became  his  residence  during  his  minority. 
Preparatory  studies  were  persued  at  Woodstock  and  Castleton. 
Membership  in  Dartmouth  College  was  secured  in  the  autumn 
of  1836,  and  graduation  in  1840.  After  an  interval  of  two 
years,  occupied  in  part  with  teaching,  theological  studies  were 
commenced  at  Bangor  Seminary,  and  completed  in  1845.  One 
year  was  devoted  to  missionary  labors.  The  pastorship  of  a 
Congregational  Church  in  Auburn  was  accepted;  and  ordination 
with  installation  occurred  Nov.  18th,  1846.  Union  by  marriage 
with  Miss  Laura  Ann  Packard,  daughter  of  Gen.  Eliphelet  and 
Abigail  Snell  Parckard,  followed,  Feb.  4th,  1847.  Health  fail- 
ing, the  relation  of  pastor  was  dissolved  after  three  years  con- 
tinuance. For  two  years  thereafter,  the  time  was  devoted  to 
manual  labor,  with  a  view  to  health,  preaching  being  continued 
on  the  Lord's  day  at  West  Minot.  In  November,  185 1,  charge 
of  the  Congregational  church  of  Madison  was  accepted  and 
held  for  32  years.  Mr.  Mitchell  is  still  a  resident  of  Madison, 
and  more  or  less  active  in  the  work  of  the  church,  as  circum- 
stances make  it  needful  and  desirable. 

As  the  fruit  of  his  marriage  six  children  were  born,  four  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Two  sons  died  in  infancy.  Two  who  are 
twins,  survive,  and  with  the  daughters  constitute  the  present 
living  members  of  his  family.  Albert  Eliphelet  Mitchell  is  me- 
chanical  engineer  of  the  Erie  railroad.  Allen  Gilmore  Mitchell  is 
supervisor  of  the  mountain  division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Central 
railroad.  Lizzie  Ann,  is  wife  of  the  Hon.  George  Flint  of  An- 
son. May  Ella,  is  wife  of  Deacon  Frank  Dinsmore  of  Madison. 
The  sons  are  also  both  married. 

Life,  on  the  whole,  has  been  very  pleasant  with  this  family. 
Its  varied  experiences  serving  only  to  bind  the  members  to- 
gether, the  children  finding  pleasure  in  ministering  to  their  pa- 
rents, especially  to  their  mother,  who,  though  unable  to  work 
or  enjoy  the  privilege  of  locomotion  even,  is  made  very  cheer- 
ful and  happy  by  their  loving  intercourse.  Providence  has 
kindly  furnished  means  so  the  "little  wanted  here  below"  is  at 
hand,  and  no  occasion  is  found  for  trouble  about  the  future. 

10 


JOS1AII  WEBSTER  PILLSBURY. 

He  was  born  at  Hamilton,  Mass.,  March  20th,  18x1.  Alter 
his  graduation  he  decided  to  engage  for  a  time  in  teaching,  to 
recruit  his  finances,  thinking  that  later  in  life  he  might  study  a 
profession.  In  the  autumn  of  1840  he  commenced  with  a  select 
school  in  Bedford,  New  Hampshire,  which  he  followed  by  a 
similar  school  the  next  winter  in  Dunstable,  Mass.  In  the 
spring  of  1841  he  was  engaged  as  principal  in  the  academy  at 
Pepperell. 

On  June  1st,  before  commencing  the  term,  he  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Dinsmoor,  a  native  of  Windham,  N.  H.,  but  then  re- 
siding in  Lowell,  Mass.  She  was  well  educated  and  had  been 
a  successful  teacher.  After  the  marriage,  she  was  engaged  as 
assistant  principal.  They  entered  upon  their  work  in  Jume  and 
continued  with  fair  success  for  nearly  two  years,  when  their  con" 
nection  with  the  academy  was  dissolved.  They  then  moved  to 
Weymouth,  Mass.,  and  took  charge  of  the  public  school  at  the 
Landing,  there  being  two  departments. 

Here  they  continued  till  Mr.  Pillsbury's  health  failed,  and 
it  was  found  necessary  for  him  to  leave  sedentary  pursuits  for 
open  air  exercise;  and  it  was  in  the  spring  of  1844  that  they 
moved  to  Henniker,  N.  H.,  where  Mr.  Pillsbury  wrought  on  his 
father's  farm  through  the  season,  and  was  then  able  to  teach 
the  village  school  through  the  winter  following.  In  the  Spring 
of  1845  tneY  bought  a  farm  in  Milford,  New  Hampshire,  in 
which  town  they  have,  for  the  most  part,  resided.  At  this  time 
(1845)  Mr.  Pillsbury  abandoned  the  idea  of  studying  a  profes- 
sion, though  he  did  not  altogether  leave  teaching,  He  has  held 
some  town  offices,  has  written  and  delivered  lectures  on  diffirent 
subjects,  has  been  a  newspaper  correspondent,  and  from  1862 
to  1864  was  School  Commissioner  for  Hillsborough  County  un- 
der the  school  law  then  existing  in  New  Hampshire.  In  1846 
a  daughter  was  born  to  them,  who  liyed  to  the  age  of  20  years, 
when  consumption  seized  her  as  its  prey.  She  had  acquired  a 
thorough  literary  and  musical  education,  and  was  prepared  for, 
and  had  entered  on  a  life  of  eminent  usefulness,  and  had  en- 
deared herself  to  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  when  she  was  called 
we  trust,  to  genial  employment  in  a  higher  realm. 

Three  years  after  her  birth,  a  son  was   born,  in    1849,    wno 
still  lives.       He  was    educated  in  the  lower  and  higher  schools 
fittted  for  college  and  entered  Harvard,  but  did  not  graduate. 

11 


He  went  to  Illinois  and  taught  school  a  year,  and  commenced 
the  study  of  law  with  an  uncle.  Returning  he  finished  his  law 
studies,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  began  in  Boston 
where  he  has  built  up  a  good  practice,  and  the  testimony  of 
Judges  and  others  is  to  the  effect  that  his  management  of  cases 
and  general  practice  are  able,  gentlemanly  and  jusc. 

He  has  been  a  member  of  both  branches  of  the  Massachusetts 
Legislature,  three  years  in  each,  and  was  president  of  the  Senate 
two  years,  the  second  year  receiving  the  entire  vote  of  both  po- 
litical parties,  who  testified  to  his  ability,  urbanity  and  imparti- 
ality. He  is  the  Fourth  of  July  orator  for  Boston  this  year,  1890. 
Mr.  Pillsbury  went  to  South  Carolina  (Port  Royal)  during  the 
war  and  was  in  government  employ  two  years;  that  place  hav- 
ing been  conquered  and  held  by  the  Federal  forces  till  the  war 
closed.  He  then  returned  and  resumed  his  employments.  He 
is  now  mostly  retired  from  active  life,  though  not  unemployed. 
The  companion  of  his  early  life  is  the  fond  companion  of  his 
age,  and  with  the  attentions  of  a  most  devoted  son,  and  daugh- 
ter-in-law, and  many  other  endeared  friends,  their  cup  of  bless- 
ing is  abounding. 


EDMUND  FARWELL  SLAFTER. 

He  was  born  in  Norwich,  Vermont,  May  30th,  18 16,  and  was 
fitted  for  college  at  Thetford  Academy.  He  taught  a  few  weeks 
in  the  same  academy,  after  graduating  in  1840,  before  joining 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover,  which  he  did  in  Novem- 
ber of  that  year.  After  the  first  year  in  the  seminary,  he  took 
charge  of  the  academy  at  Topsfield  in  Massachusetts  for  a  sin- 
gle year.  The  object  of  this  teaching  was  to  obtain  the  means 
of  lubricating  the  wheels  of  the  educational  coach  that  he  was 
running  at  that  time.  After  two  years  more  at  the  seminary  at 
Andover,  he  withdrew  his  connection,  in  order  to  give  atten- 
tion to  those  special  studies  in  which  he  was  to  be  examined  for 
admission  to  orders  in  the  Episcopal  church.  He  was  ordained 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Manton  Eastburn  in  Trinity  Church,  Boston, 
July  12th,  1844.  He  became  rector  of  Saint  Peter's  Church, 
Cambridge  and  continued  in  charge  two  years  and  a  quarter, 
when  he  accepted  the  rectorship  of  Saint  John's  Church,  Jamai- 
ca Plain,  then  a  part  of  Roxbury,  now  incorporated  into  the  city 

12 


of  Boston.  He  remained  there  somewhat  more  than  seven  years, 
when  he  was  disabled  by  what  was  then  called  the  "clergyman's 
sore  throat."  He  was  a  member  of  the  School  Committee  sev- 
eral years,  and  chairman  of  the  board  the  last  year  of  his  resi- 
dence in  that  town.  Resigning  the  parish,  he  removed  to  Boston 
where  he  spent  four  years  performing  very  little  cleric  il  duty. 
These  four  years  he  devoted  largely  to  the  study  of  history,  tak- 
ing a  general  survey  of  ancient  history,  reading  such  authors  as 
Arnold,  Ferguson,  Cook  and  Gibbons,  and  Grote  for  the  history 
of  Greece,  He  gave  much  time  also,  to  the  study  of  American 
history,  dealing  topically  with  such  questions  as  the  tariff,  slav- 
ery, and  others,  refering  to  original  documents  for  information. 
These  studies  were  very  interesting  and  engrossing. 

His  voice  having  partially  recovered,  he  accepted  thi  appoint- 
ment of  superintendent  of  the  American  Bible  Society  for  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States.  The  duties  of  this  of- 
fice involved  a  large  correspondence,  and  oversight  of  the 
work  of  the  Society  in  the  important  centres,  as  Boston,  New 
York,  Philadelphia  and  others.  He  continued  in  this  work 
twenty  years,  retiring  in  1877. 

About  that  time  he  was  requested  to  take  charge  of  several 
properties  amounting  in  all  to  much  more  than  half  a  million 
dollars.  This  involved  much  care  and  responsibility.  More 
than  half  of  this  amount  has  been  paid  out  in  legacies,  and  the 
remainder  still  continues  in  his  charge  as  trustee.  This  state- 
ment has  been  made,  in  round  numbers,  in  order  to  convey  a 
fairly  correct  idea  of  the  care  and  responsibility  involved  in  his 
occupation  for  the  last  fifteen  years. 

During  the  whole  period  since  he  left  parochial  work,  nearly 
40  years,  his  obligatory  duties  have  left  him  a  generous  margin 
of  leisure,  which  has  been  utilized  by  studies  and  investigations 
on  a  great  variety  of  topics  of  an  archaeological  and  historical 
character,  such  as  the  voyages  and  exploring  expeditions  to  our 
coast  during  the  hundred  years  anterior  to  any  permanent  settle- 
ment, the  history  and  character  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants, 
our  colonial  annals,  the  local  and  family  history,  particularly  of 
Massachusetts,  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  New  England,  the 
church  organizations,  their  practical  working  and  stability. 
The  outcome  of  these  studies  has  been  the  publication  of  some 
volumns  and  brocardicas,  touching  directly  or  indirectly  such 
topics  as  above  indicated.  Among  others  the  following  may 
be  mentioned:— 

13 


i.  An  octavo  volume  giving  an  account  of  the  Slafter  family 
for  two  hundred  years. 

2.  A  memoir  of  Samuel  de  Champlain,  an  early  explorer  of 
the  New  England  coast,  the  founder  of  Quebec  and  the  dis- 
coverer of  the  lake  that  bears  his  name.  No  complete  memoir 
of  this  distinguished  French  navigator  had  before  been  publish- 
ed. The  whole  work  includes  an  English  translation  of  Cham- 
plains  journals,  by  another  hand,  in  three  volumes,  heavily  an- 
notated by  the  author  of  the  memoir. 

3.  A  memoir  of  Sir  William  Alexander,  the  Earl  of  Stirling, 
a  Scotch  nobleman  to  whom  James  I.  gave  the  charter  of  Nova 
Scotia,  and  other  grants  of  land  in  Canada  and  within  the 
borders  of  New  England  and  New  York. 

4.  "The  Icelandic  Sagas"  in  an  English  translation  by 
Beamith  with  an  introduction  and  annotations  by  E.  F.  S.  The 
Sagas  contain  all  the  evidence  we  have  of  the  discovery  of  this 
country  by  the  Northmen  about  the  year  1000. 

5.  Pre-historic  Copper  Implements. — An  open  letter  to  the 
Historical  Society  of  Wisconsin.  An  attempt  to  show  that  the 
copper  implements  found  in  Wisconsin  were  fabricated  by  the 
Indians  and  not  by  a  previous  race  more  highly  civilized,  as 
claimed  by  some  writers. 

6.  Incorrect  Latitudes. — Showing  why  the  latitudes  set  down 
by  the  early  navigators  and  explorers  were  all  incorrect,  with  a 
description  of  the  instruments  used,  as  the  Astrolabe,  Jacob's 
staff,  etc. 

7.  The  Vermont  Coinage. — Some  account  of  the  coins 
issued  by  that  State  before  the  establishment  of  the  United 
States  mint. 

8.  The  coinage  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  under  authority  grant- 
ed by  Charles  II. 

9.  Royal  Emblems  and  Memorials  in  use  in  the  Thirteen 
Colonies  before  the  American  Revolution,  with  illustrations  of 
the  Royal  Arms  still  preserved. 

10.  Historical  Discourse  on  the  growth  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States. 

11.  A  Quarter-Century  Discourse  delivered  before  the  New 
England  Historic  Geneological  Society. 

Besides  the  above,  he  has  published  ten  or  twelve  pamphlets 
on  a  variety  of  subjects  which  need  not  be  definitely  described. 
He  has  been  a  contributor  to  magazines  and  newspapers.      He 

14 


is  a  member  of  the  New  England  Historic  Geneological  Socie- 
ty and  was  its  corresponding  secretary  for  a  period  of  twenty 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Socie- 
ty, whose  limit  of  members  is  one  hundred.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Bostonian  Society,  and  of  the  Royal  Historical  Society 
of  Great  Bntian,  and  of  a  large  number  of  the  Historical  So- 
cieties of  the  different  states  of  the  Union.  He  is  correspond 
ing  secretary  of  the  Massachusetts  Bible  Society,  and  chairman 
of  its  executive  committee.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Council  of  the  Prince  Society  since  its  organization  in  1858,  and 
president  of  the  society  for  the  last  ten  years.  The  object  of 
this  association  is  to  print  rare  book's  or  manuscripts  on  Ameri- 
can History,  and  they  are  only  sold  to  members  of  the  society. 
Twenty  volumes  have  been  issued  including  what  are  "now  in 
press  They  are  expensive,  averaging  five  dollars  for  each  vol- 
ume. The  proof  sheets  of  each  volume  are  sent  to  Mr.  Slafter, 
as  president  of  the  society,  for  his  examination  and  correction. 

In  1884  he  was  elected  Registrar  of  the  Diocese  of  Massachu- 
setts, to  which  office  he  has  been  annually  re-elected  to  the 
present  time.  In  virtue  of  this  office  he  is  the  custodian  of  all 
manuscripts  and  printed  books  and  documents  belonging  to  the 
Diocese,  and  is  charged  with  the  duty  of  adding  to  the  collec- 
tion whatever  may  elucidate  the  history  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
Since  he  has  been  in  charge  he  has  added  a  large  number  of 
historical  manuscripts  and  over  800  bound  volumes  to  the 
archives  of  the  Diocese.  He  has  issued  seven  reports,  one  an- 
nually, of  his  proceedings,  which  have  been  printed  in  pamphlet 
form  by  order  of  the  Diocese. 

Such  is  an  outline  of  his  occupations  for  a  period  of  fifty  years. 
His  maxim  has  been  not  to  aim  so  much  at  great  achievements, 
as  to  do  thoroughly  and  as  well  as  he  was  able,  whatever  he  be- 
lieved it  his  duty  to  do  at  all.  He  was  married  to  Mary  Anne 
Hazen  of  Boston,  Aug.  16,  1849.  She  died  Aug.  6,  1886.  To 
him  the  memory  of  thirty-seven  years  of  perfect  happiness  will 
always  be  precious.     They  had  no  children. 

CHARLES  GODFREY  STEVENS. 

Charles  Godfrey  Stevens,  son  of  Godfrey  and  Hannah  (Poole) 
Stevens,  was  born  at  Claremont,  N.  H.,  Sept.  16,  182 1.  He  fit- 
ted for  college  at  the  High  School  at  Claremont  and  Kimball 
Union  Academy  Meriden,  N.  H.,  and  entered  Washington  (now 

15 


Trinity)  College,  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1836,  was  there  two  years. 
He  left  after  an  attack  of  typhoid  fever  and  entered  Dartmouth 
as  junior  in  1838.  After  graduation  he  was  a  tutor  in  the  fami- 
ly of  Richard  Coke  of  Gloucester  Co.,  Virginia,  a  year.  Then 
for  a  short  time  he  was  at  the  Law  School  of  Harvard  Univer- 
sity; afterwards  read  law  in  the  offices  of  James  H.  Bingham 
and  Upham  &  Snow,  at  Claremont,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  Sullivan  Co.,  N.  H.,  in  1845.  He  removed  to  Boston  in  the 
fall  of  that  year,  and  to  Clintonville  (then  a  village  in  Lancas- 
ter, Mass.)  now  Clinton,  in  July  1846,  where  he  has  since  lived. 

He  married  September  29th,  1846,  Laura  A.  Russell  at  Bel- 
lows Falls,  Vt.,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  now  living.  He  has  filled  various  public  offices;  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Mass.  Constitutional  Convention  of  1853, 
and  of  the  Mass.  State  Senate  of  1862.  He  was  appointed  by 
Gov.  John  A.Andrew,  Draft  Commissioner  for  Worcester  Coun- 
ty, in  the  fall  of  1862.  He  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  second 
District  Court  of  Eastern  Worcester  on  its  establishment  in 
1874.  He  organized  the  Clinton  Savings  Bank  in  1851,  and 
was  made  its  secretary  and  solicitor,  which  offices  he  still  holds. 
He  organized  the  First  National  Bank  of  Clinton  in  1864,  and 
was  elected  its  president,  which  office  he  still  holds.  He  or- 
ganized the  Clinton  Hospital  Association  and  was  elected  its 
president.  He  has  been  a  director  in  several  fire  insurance 
companies,  and  is  now  vice-president  of  the  Merchants  and  Far- 
mers' Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Worcester,  Mass . 
He  has  delivered  public  addresses  before  Lyceums,  Mechanic's 
Institutes  and  Literary  Associations;  and  in  i860,  took  the 
stump   in  favor  of   the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

During  the  Rebellion,  he  was  frequently  called  upon  to  ad- 
dress his  fellow  citizens  in  aid  of  recruiting  service  and  has  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  his  town  furnished  more  than  its 
quota  for  the  service  of  its  country. 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Committee  of  Clinton, 
and  has  been  and  now  is  Senior  Warden  of  the  church  of  the 
Good  Shepherd  of  Clinton,  Mass.,  and  finally  during  the  forty 
years  of  the  incorporation  of  Clinton,  he  has  been  elected  mod- 
erator of  the  annual  town  meeting  thirty-six  times.  He  has 
worked  hard  in  his  profession  and  has  been  fairly  successful,  so 
that,  when  he  crosses  the  river,  he  trusts  his  estate  will  be  suf- 
ficient to  meet  all  claims  against  it.  He  was  elected  an  honor- 
ary member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society,  1890. 

16 


LEONARD  TENNEY. 

He  was  born  in  Groton,  N.  H.,  Aug.  5,  1814.  His  father, 
Benjamin  Tenney,  and  mother,  Betsey  Boynton  Tenney,  were 
both  natives  of  Hollis,  N.  H.  In  the  autumn  of  183 1  he  united 
with  the  Congregational  Church  in  Groton.  In  March,  1833  he 
left  home,  to  reside  in  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  where  he  read  through 
Adams'  Latin  Reader  with  the  Rev.  Henry  Wood.  After  teach- 
ing school  in  Orford  the  following  winter,  he  entered  Kimball 
Union  Academy  and  remained  there,  excepting  when  he  was 
away  earning  money,  till  the  summer  of  1836,  when  he  entered 
Dartmouth  College.  On  leaving,  college  in  1840,  he  remained 
in  the  yicinity  of  Hanover,  engaged  in  teaching  till  March  1842, 
when  he  went  to  the  Theological  Seminary  in  Andover,  Mass., 
and  before  the  close  of  the  school  year  was  admitted  to  the 
class,  and  the  next  two  years  he  spent  in  that  seminary.  Soon 
after  graduating  in  1844,  he  began  to  preach  in  Jaffrey,  N.  H., 
and  on  March  19,  1845,  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

On  June  26,  1845,  ne  was  married  to  Miss  Malvina  Baker  of 
Lebanon,  N.  H.  During  ten  years  he  was  Superintendent  of 
schools  at  Jaffrey,  and  two  years,  beginning  in  April,  1855,  ne 
was  County  Commissioner  of  schools.  In  September,  1857,  he 
began  his  ministry  in  Thetford,  Vt.,  where  he  remained  ten 
years.  Here  he  was  Superintendent  of  Schools  six  years,  and 
from  that  town  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  in  1866-7.  ^n 
Jan.  t,  1868,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Barre,  Vt.,  and  that  pastorate  continued  till  May  15,  188 1.  In 
this  town  he  served  as  Superintendent  of  Schools  seven  years. 
He  has  four  children, — a  daughter  and  three  sons.  Two  of  the 
sons  are  graduates  of  Dartmouth  College. 

ALEXANDER  STRONG  WHEELER. 

He  was  born  at  Wayland,  Massachusetts,  August  7th,  1820. 
Graduating  in  1840,  he  went  to  Virginia  where  he  taught  for 
a  year,  then  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  studied  law  for  a  year, 
then  to  the  Harvard  Law  School,  then  to  the  office  of  Sidney 
Bartlett  of  Boston.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  Jan.  1.  1844, 
and  immediately  entered  into  partnership  with  his  class-mate, 
Henry  C.  Hutchins,  who  by  a  singular  coincidence  was  born  on 
the  same  day  with  himself.  That  partnership  has  continued  to 
the  present  time  and  will  continue  as  long  as  the  two  live. 

17 


He  has  never  held  and  never  sought  political  office.  But 
while  he  has  labored  diligently  in  his  profession  he  has  taken 
an  interest  in,  and  been  connected  with  religious,  educational, 
benevolent  and  business  institutions,  and  thusendeaveredtodo 
something  in  the  contributions  every  man  owes  to  the  com- 
munity. 

He  was  married,  Jan.  6,  1848,  to  Augusta  Hurd  of  Charles- 
town,  and  they  have  two  children  now  living. 

The  editor  desires  to  add  that  the  law  firm  of  Hutchins  and 
Wheeler,  of  so  long  standing,  is  one  of  the  best  known  and 
trusted,  for  honesty,  fidelity  and  ability  in  the   city   of    Boston. 

Mr.  Wheeler  has  published  three  pamphlets  on  the  following 
subjects,  viz: — Socialism;  The  Labor  Question;  and  Banking  in 
Boston;  and  many  articles  in  the  newspapers.  He  has  been 
president  of  the  Unitarian  Club  in  Boston  ;  president  of  the 
Massachusetts  Charitable  Congregational  Society;  trustee  of  the 
National  Sailors'  Home;  manager  of  the  Boston  Asylum  and 
Farm  School;  trustee  of  the  Franklin  Savings  Bank;  a  director 
of  the  Second  National  Bank  of  Boston;  a  director  of  the  Mut- 
ual Benefit  Insurance  Company;  director  of  the  Dwelling  House 
Insurance  Company;  director  of  the  Bigelow  Carpet  Co..;  direc- 
tor of  the  Clinton  Wire  Cloth  Co.;  director  of  the  Kearsarge 
Mills  Co.;  director  of  the  Cabot  Mills  Co.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  corporation  and  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Institute  of  Technology.  He  is  chairman  of  thj  com- 
mittee of  the  Bar  Association  in  connection  with  the  New 
Court  House  in  Boston. 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  WHIDDEN. 

He  was  born  in  Greenland,  New  Hampshire,  December  12, 
1813.  In  early  life  he  was  on  a  farm.  Before  fitting  for  college 
he  learned  the  cabinet  maker's  trade,  which  was  of  assistance 
to  him  at  the  academy.  He  fitted  for  college  at  Kimball  Union 
Academy. 

Soon  after  leaving  college,  he  went  south  as  a  teacher  in 
Latin,  Greek,  French,  Mathematics  and  the  higher  branches  of 
English.  His  school  was  in  the  old  county  of  Hanover  in  Vir- 
ginia, the  county  of  Patrick  Henry  and  Henry' Clay.     It  was  in 

18 


slavery  days,  and  was  supported  by  an  association  <>i  old  plant- 
ters,  and  made  up  of  young  gentlemen  and  young  ladies.  His 
salary  was  made  up  of  individual  tuitions  of  from  $20  to  $50  a 
year  for  each  scholar.  The  number  was  from  20  to  30,  the  school 
year  was  10  months.  It  was  all  under  his  charge  and  direction, 
was  pleasant  and  lasted  four  and  one-half  years.  A  school  teacher 
in  that  day  stood  well  in  society,  and  was  on  a  level  with  all  the 
better  class  of  citizens.  This  was  his  first  entrance  into  busi- 
ness life  and  upon  business  habits,  and  gave  him  a  clear  insight 
into  southern  life  in  all  its  phases.  His  vacation  of  two  months 
came  mostly  in  the  winter,  which  he  spent  in  Washington, 
where  he  had  the  advantage  of  books,  of  attending  the  courts 
and  congress,  of  seeing  and  hearing  the  foremost  men  of  the 
nation.  The  business  of  a  teacher  in  the  South  then  was  a 
passport  to  an  introduction  wherever  he  went.  He  saw,  heard 
and  was  introduced  to  leading  men;  to  such  men  as  Clay,  Web- 
ster, Wright,  McDuffy,  Calhoun,  Tom  Marshall,  John  Quincy 
Adams,  Critenden.  Tom  Benton,  Choate,  Preston,  Jones, 
Seward,  Wyse,  Stevens  and  a  host  of  others.  He  considered 
this  an  important  part  of  his  education.  The  style  of  speaking 
had  not  then  degenerated  into  diffuseness,  and  everlasting 
elaboration,  but  was  still  Ciceronian  and  Grecian. 

Clay  was  a  model  of  eloquence,  Webster  of  power  and  im- 
pressiveness,  McDuffy  and  Tom  Marshall  for  power  of  attack 
and  storm,  Choate  for  magnetic  powrer,  Benton  for  storming  the 
castle,  and  John  Quincy  Adam  wis  always  the  "old  man  elo- 
quent" and  invincible.  His  memory  of  his  young  life  of  that 
day  is  ever  before  him,  and  "a  gracious  possession  forever." 

He  returned  to  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  in  October,  1845;  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  July,  1846,  and  commenced  practice  at 
Lancaster  in  1847.  For  many  years  he  was  connected  more  or 
less,  wich  educational  matters.  He  procured  the  passage  of  the 
law  for  a  School  Commissioner  in  each  county  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  was  appointed  commissioner  of  Coos  County  in  1851 
and  1852.  In  1850  he  drew  the  bill  and  agitated  the  subject  of 
the  Homestead  Law,  which  passed  the  House  by  a  large  majori- 
ty, and  became  the  law  of  the  State  in  185 1.  Though  a  young 
men,  he  was  called  the  "Father  of  the  Homestead  Law."  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  New  Hampshire  in  1849, 
1850,  and  in  1867.     In  1867  he  opposed  and  defeated  the    pas- 


19 


sage  of  the  Flowage  Act,  and  was  engaged  on  the  committee  to 
revise  the  statutes. 

Soon  his  practice  of  the  law  increased  so  that  all  his  time 
was  employed  in  his  profession.  In  1845  he  was  appointed 
County  Solicitor  which  gave  him  charge  of  the  criminal  business 
for  the  county.  This  gave  him  a  busy  life  till  1862,  when  he 
was,  on  the  recognition  of  the  government  of  Hayti  by  our 
government,  appointed  by  President  Lincoln,  Commissioner  and 
Counsul  General  to  that  government  with  plenipotentiary  power 
to  make  and  conclude  "a  treaty  of  amity,  commerce  and  naviga- 
tion, and  for  the  extradition  of  fugitive  criminals."  There  hav- 
ing been  no  diplomatic  relations  opened  between  the  United 
States  and  Hayti  till  his  arrival  there.  He  found  a  long  docket 
of  cases  open  for  consideration  and  settlement.  The  first  year 
was  taken  almost  wholly  in  their  examination.  He  found  the 
Government  friendly,  and  our  relations  mutually  important  to 
each  other.  Commerce  was  already  large  and  growing.  He 
concluded  a  full  and  complete  treaty  in  1864  with  that  Govern- 
ment, which  was  immediately  confirmed  by  both  Governments 
That  treaty  is  found  in  volume  13  of  the  U.  S.  Statutes  at  large 
on  page  711  to  729  inclusive,  and  was  published  July  6th,  1865. 
He  found  no  difficulty  in  meeting,  and  in  most  cases  settling 
amicably,  the  long  list  of  cases  on  the  docket  between  the  two 
countries.  One  of  the  most  trying,  and  which  called  for  heroic 
treatment,  was  that  of  Antonio  Pelletior,  which  arose  a  short 
time  before  his  arrival.  He  gives  this  case  as  a  specimen  of 
what  came  before  him  to  examine  and  manage. 

Captain  Antonio  Pelletier,  a  naturalized  American  citizen, 
owner  and  commander  of  the  Barque  "Willemene"  under  the 
American  flag,  sailed  out  of  a  city  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  in 
the  United  States  with  a  clearance  and  an  assorted  cargo  on 
his  manifest,  bound  for  the  Spanish  Main.  By  stress  of  weath- 
er on  his  voyage  he  was  driven  upon  the  coast  of  Hayti,  but 
was  anchored  in  safety  near  a  harbor.  His  vessel  was  seized 
by  Haytian  authority  as  a  slaver,  the  captain  was  arrested  and 
placed  in  irons;  his  vessel,  cargo,  property  and  all  his  money 
seized  and  confiscated;  The  captain  was  tried  under  Haytian 
law,  without  being  allowed  consul,  and  condemned  to  be  shot, 
(as  they  do  not  hang).  He  was  still  in  prison  on  Mr.  Whidden's 
arrival  in  the  country  awaiting  his  execution.  He  addressed  a 
note  to  the  Government,  asking  a  postponement  till  he  could  ex- 


20 


amine  into  the  case.     It  was  granted.      He   found    he  had  not 

invaded  their  territory,  had  transgressed  no  law,  either  State  or 
International,  that  their  suspicions  were  groundless,  and  that 
he  had  been  denied  the  right  of  defense.  He  reported  his  case 
to  our  Government  in  full,  and  was  complimented  in  Secretary 
Seward's  approval.  He  exposed  the  illegal  course  of  the  Hay- 
tian  Government  and  demanded  that  he  be  released  from  prison 
and  placed  in  a  hospital  for  his  restoration  to  health.  This  was 
done.  In  a  short  time  he  was  sent  under  a  guard  of  soldiers  to 
the  United  States  Legation,  with  a  note  from  the  Secretary  of 
Foreign  Relation,  that  he  was  delivered  up  to  the  commissioner. 
He  received  him  under  a  protest  of  the  illegality  of  the  proceed- 
ings. He  sent  him  to  the  Isthmus  in  a  Spanish  vessel,  and 
then  to  New  York  under  the  American  Flag,  reserving  his  claim 
for  personal  suffering  and  loss  of  property  for  future  con- 
sideration. 

It  was  afterwards  provided  by  treaty,  between  the  United 
States  and  Hayti  that  the  claim  of  Captain  Antonio  Pelletier 
against  the  Government  of  Hayti  be  arbitrated,  and  referred  to 
Ex-Judge  Strong,  late  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court.  On  his  re- 
turn to  the  United  States  at  the  close  of  his  mission,  Mr.  Whid- 
clen  was  summoned  to  Washington,  as  a  witness  before  Judge 
Strong,  for  the  prosecution  rested  largely  on  his  testimony. 
The  case  was  tried  at  the  State  Department  and  both  govern- 
ments were  ably  represented.  Mr.  Whidden's  dispatches  to 
the  Government,  the  law  under  which  he  was  tried,  a  copy  of 
the  record  of  the  trial  and  sentence,  prisoner's  condition  and 
treatment  in  prison,  value  of  vessel,  cargo  and  property  set  out 
on  record,  all  these  having  come  before  him,  he  was  called  to 
tell  the  story.  It  was  a  pityable  one,  and  closed  the  case. 
The  decision  was  reserved  for  consideration. 

Captain  Pelletier  was  a  man  of, ability  and  education.  He 
spoke  four  different  languages  with  ease.  He  was  a  gentleman 
by  birth  and  a  nobleman  by  nature,  but  broken  down  in  health 
in  a  filthy  prison  in  the  Torrid  Zone.  Early  in  June  after  the 
trial  in  January,  Judge  Strong  awarded  him  the  sum  of  $55,500, 
Poor  Pelletier  died  on  the  same  day.  It  would  take  too  much 
space  to  rehearse  other  cases.  Suffice  to  say  Mr.  Whidden's 
mission  was  approved  by  the  Government  and  complimented  by 
Mr.  Seward,  the  Secretary  of  State. 

* 
21 


Hayti  is  a  beautiful  and  picturesque  country.  It  has  many 
high  mountains  and  a  soil  rich  and  exhaustless.  Its  people  are 
volatile  and  passionate,  like  all  people  of  the  Tropics;  but  edu- 
cation and  improvement  were  noticable  at  that  time.  Like 
many  a  Northern  man  he  had  the  yellow  fever  at  last,  resigned 
and  came  home.  On  his  return  home,  as  soon  as  he  regained 
his  health,  re-entered  again  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  still 
has  his  sign  out.  In  1868  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  Probate, 
and  held  the  office  till  1874,  when  with  his  wife  he  traveled 
somewhat  extensively  in  Europe.  He  always  had  a  passion  for 
travel.  He  has  left  out  much  that  has  transpired  in  his  life 
since  1840,  because  it  would  take  too  much  space  here;  perhaps 
some  that  his  class  might  be  interested  to  know.  Fifty  years  is 
a  good  while  in  a  busy  life,  and  necessarily  embraces  consider- 
able history. 

He  is  not  a  pessimist,  but  believes    the    world   is    advancing, 

particularly  the  lower  stratum  of  the  human  race.       Mankind  is 

rising  more  to  a  common  level.     Monarchies  sink  as  the  people 

rise. 

He  was  married  June  17,  1851  to   Miss  Eliza  T.  Spaulding  of 

Lancaster,  N.  H.  By  her,  he  had  one  child,  Dr.  John  W.  Whid- 
den.  who  is  in  successful  practice  in  Portland,  Maine.  John's 
mother  died  September  1st  1868,  respected,  beloved,  and 
mourned  by  all  who  knew  her.  July  15,  1874,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Kate  J.  Brooks  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  By  her,  he  had 
one  child  that  died  in  infancy,  She  was  a  woman  of  great  culti- 
vation and  rare  accomplishments,  but  died  suddenly,  November 
30th,  1879. 

And  now  he  has  rapidly  gone  over  the  50  years  that  have 
passed  since  he  left  the  classic  halls  of  old  Dartmouth,  taking  a 
few  glimpses  of  what  has  happened  to  him,  and  that  with  other 
contributions  may  be  interesting  to  us  all.  When  the  last  shall 
have  answered  the  roll  call,  who  will  speak  for  1840. 


22 


Letters  by  Members  of  the  Class  of  1840, 

not  present  at  the  meeting  held 

June  25,  1890. 


AURIN  MOODY  PAYSON. 

I 

Rev.  Drs.  Leonard  Tenney  and  Harry  Brickett, 
Com.  of  Class  1840, 

Dear  Bros,  and  Classmates: — 
Your  invitation  to  meet  our  surviving  comrades,  at  the 
annual  commencement  this  summer,  was  received  some  time 
since,  and  I  heartily  thank  you  for  the  kind  words  it  contains. 
I  have  been  hoping  all  along  till  within  a  few  days,  to  be  there 
but  an  attack  of  rheumatism  in  my  left  lower  limb  almost  pre- 
vents me  from  walking.  I  regret  exceedingly,  my  inability  to 
come  and  see  once  more  my  dear  old  comrades  in  the  ranks  of 
college  warriors.  My  life  has  been  one  of  hard  labor,  and  I 
hope,  to  some  extent,  useful.  Among  the  great  multitude  of  my 
pupils,  I  cannot  recall  even  four  that  have  not  done  well,  and 
some  have  distinguished  themselves  in  the  ranks  of  wealth, 
learning  and  honor. 

You  ask  for  some  "personal  and  domestic  history." — Here 
you  have  a  sprinkling:  I  was  principal  of  South  Berwick 
Academy,  Maine,  more  than  eight  years.  Then  I  was  elected 
principal  of  the  Boys'  High  School  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  I 
went  there  and  taught  ten  years;  was  then  elected  principal  of 
the  Girls'  High  School  and  taught  that  ten  years;  finally  they 
elected  me  principal  of  both,  and  my  letter  of  resignation,  of 
which  here  is  a  copy,  will  show  how  pleasantly  that  long  por- 
tion of  my  life  was  spent  in  the  cause. 


Portsmouth,  May  8,  1874. 
Hon.  Albert  R.  Hatch, 

Chairman  High  School  Committee, 

My  Dear  Sir: — Circumstances  have  arisen,  which 
make  it  my  duty  to  resign  my  position  as  principal  of  the  united 
High  Schools  of  this  city.  Have  just  been  elected  to  the  office 
of  Superi:  pendent  of  the  Public  Schools  in  Wakefield,  Mass., 
near  where  my  family  now  resides,on  whose  account  I  thankfully 
accept  thi  appointment.  During  the  last  fifteen  years,  I  have  had 
offered  me  high  and  honorable  situations  elsewhere,  all  which 
were  declined.  Although  the  salaries  were  considerably  higher 
than  here,  yet  I  did  not  feel  disposed  to  leave  the  good  old  city 
I  loved  so  well.  In  tendering  my  resignatioa  to  take  effect  on  the 
15th  in st.,  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  say  that  for  more  than 
twenty  years  there  have  existed  the  most  friendly  relations  be 
tween  myself  and  the  several  committees  who  have  had  the  care 
3.nc\  oversight  of  the  schools.  To  yourself  personally  as  a  long 
tried  ai^d  efficient  member  of  the  committee  and  to  the  other 
gentlemen  associated  with  you  I  desire  to  express  my  sincere 
thanks  for  your  uniform  courtesy  and  regard.  With  my  best 
wishes  for  your  prosperity  and  that  of  the  city,  I  have  the  hon- 
nor  to  be 

Your  Obt.  Servant, 

A.  M.  Payson. 

Several  years  made  up  of  short  periods  of  teaching  in  other 
places  complete  my  experience  in  that  calling.  I  studied  for 
the  ministry  and  preached  more  or  less  for  several  years,  and 
was  requested  to  "settle"  over  some  churches,  but  was  urged 
so  strongly  to  teach  and  told  that  I  might  do  as  much  good.  I 
finally  gave  up  preaching. 

All  my  family  are  living,  save  one,  my  second  daughter,  Mrs. 
C.  O.  Walker,  who  lived  in  Portsmouth.  Two  daughters  living 
are  teachers,  and  three  sons  in  Boston,  one  in  R.  H.  White  & 
Co.'s  establishment ;  one  a  member  of  the  firm  of  A.  C.  Hardy 
&  Co.,  and  the  youngest,  wholesale  clerk  in  Leopold  Morse  & 
Co.'s  house.     All  doing  well. 

I  have  done  some  literary  work.  Pres.  A.  D.  Smith  in  reply 
to  a  book  I  sent  him,  said  "you  have  honored  the  state  of  New 
Hampshire."  If  I  live  I  want  to  finish  a  little  volume  nearly 
complete  in  manuscript,  for  the  benefit  of  a  class  of  young 
men.  Although  I  have  no  college  honors  of  which  to  speak, 
yet  as  Judge  Sargent  once  said,  I  have  much  to  be  grateful  for. 
He  used  to  call  on  me  at  Portsmouth  and  was  a  classmate  I 
dearly  loved. 

24 


If  we  should  not  meet  on  College  grounds  any  more,  I    hope 

we  may  be  found  among  the  soldiers  of  our  blessed  Lord  jesus, 
who  "have  fought  the  good  fight  and  have  kept  the  faith,"  .ind 
that  we  may  each  have  "the  crown  of  life,  that  fadeth  not 
away!"  With  my  best  wishes  for  yourselves  and  our  dear  old 
Alma  Mater.     I  am  truly  your  classmate 

A.  M.  PAYSON. 
P.  S.     If  any  of  our  classmat  js  wish  to  hear  anything  I  have 
written,  you  may  read  them  any  scraps  of  this  letter  you  think 
may  be  proper.  P. 

86  Cedar  Street,  Maiden,  Mass. 

DANIEL  THURSTON  PLUMMER. 

Newbury,  June  23,  1890. 
Mr.  Tenney,   Dear  Brother: — 

Yours  of  a  late  date  is  received.  I  thank  you  for  the  kind 
invitation  you  tender  me  to  be  present  at  the  re-union  of  the 
survivors  of  the  class  of  '40.  I  intended  to  have  met  with  you 
on  that  occasion,  an  occasion  replete  with  joy  and  sadness. 
Now  when  the  time  draws  near,  I  regret  to  inform  you  I  cannot 
attend.  It  is  a  great  disappointment  to  me.  The  time,  that 
has  elapsed  since  we  parted,  has  been  filled  with  incidents  and 
events  of  thrilling  interest,  the  recital  of  which  would  be  deeply 
emotional.  What  a  panorama  it  would  afford.  I  shall  not  at- 
tempt to  recount  my  own  experience.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  as 
a  whole  it  has  been  highly  enjoyable.  All  this  time  I  have 
been  blessed  with  uninterrupted  good  health,  notwithstanding 
the  cares  and  exposures  of  my  profession.  On  account  of 
these,  I  relinquished  the  profession  some  years  ago  and  have 
since  given  my  time  to  my  personal  interests.  I  have  a  pleas- 
ant home  amid  picturesque  surroundings.  I  live  four  miles 
from  Newburyport,  in  old  Newbury.  It  would  afford  me  great 
delight  to  receive  a  visit  from  you  and  all  the  rest  of  my  class- 
mates.    My  family  would  greet  you  with  a  hearty  welcome. 

Now  as  we  sail  on  life's  ocean  still,  nearing  the  other  shore, 
let  us  ever  be  cheerful  in  full  assurance  that  He  who  laid  the 
raging  winds  and  quieted  the  surging  billows,  walks  upon  the 
waters  still.  Believe  me  ever  sincerely  yours  in  fraternal  es- 
teem 

Dan'l  T.  Plummsr. 

P.  S.     Please  report  to  me  the  proceedings  or  the  meeting. 
25 


WILLIAM  LOVELL  SARTWELLE. 

Comanche,  Texas,  May  12,  1890. 

Rev.  Tenney  and  Brickett, 

My  dear  old  Classmates  and  Brothers: — I  have  delayed 
answerinr  your  circular,  hoping  to  be  able  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  my  presence  at  the  "semi-centennial  anniversary  of 
our  graduation."  Nothing  would  give  me  greater  pleasure  than 
to  meet  in  the  hallowed  precincts  of  old  Dartmouth,  the  surviv- 
ing members  of  our  class.  But  I  fear  business  obligations  and 
duty  to  others  will  not  permit  my  absence  from  home  next 
month. 

I  therefore  send  to  each  of  the  dear  brothers,  that  may  be 
present  at  the  celebration,  the  warmest  greetings  of  an  affec- 
tion, that  has  been  true  and  unchanged  during  the  fifty  years 
of  our  separation.  May  the  peace  of  God  fill  each  of  your 
hearts,  and  may  His  richest  blessings  be  enjoyed  by  you  all. 
To  the  great  outside  world,  my  life  has  been  an  uneventful  one, 
quiet  and  obscure. 

I  moved  to  Texas  from  Alabama  as  a  lawyer  in  1846, 
married  in  1850.  Have  a  wife  and  one  surviving  child  who  is 
a  clergyman  in  the  Episcopal  ehurch.  Was  a  soldier  in  the 
Confederate  army  during  the  whole  period  of  our  late  deplora- 
ble Civil  war.  Have  never  aspired  for  political  offices.  Have 
served  as  Grand  High  Priest  of  the  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chap- 
ter of  Texas,  and  during  most  of  my  fifty  years  of  work,  cares, 
trials  and  temptations,  have  always  felt  that  the  noblest,  grand- 
est life  on  earth  is  that  of  a  consisent,  earnest  follower  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  How  I  would  like  to  recall  with  you,  the 
memories  of  Auld  Lang  Syne,  but  it  may  not  be  on  this  side  of 
the  dark  river,  so,  dear  brothers,  farewell,  if  it  is  God's  will, 
until  the  re-awakening  and  re-union  on  the  other  side.  Will 
you  kindly  tell  me  of  the  meeting  and  who  were  there? 
Yours  truly  and  fraternally, 

W.  L.  Sartwelle. 


26 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


3  0112  110180996 


